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Footnotes
35:1 Claviculæ Salomonis, vel Theosophia Pneumatica.
35:2 J. Scheible, Das Kloster. Weltlich und Geistlich. Meist aus der Altern Deutschen
Volks-Literatur, 12 vols., Stuttgart, 1845-49.
36:1 There is a curious history attaching to this word, but it can he elucidated only by a
Hebrew scholar. It seems to be of late introduction, though it derives from the verb to
learn. It has been said to represent a stage of initiation in certain occult societies of Islâm.
36:2 As it is unlikely that Theosophia Pneumatica will ever be printed in English, it may
be well to give a summary of its appendix, that is to say, of the only section of this work
which differs generically from the Arbatel. Affirming that all things are threefold, from
the Divine Triad of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to man, who is composed of the fleshly
body, the sensitive soul and the rational spirit, it defines the human principles as follows:
The body is of earth; the sensitive soul is of the four elements, but derives through the
stars, and is the seat of understanding and genius for arts and sciences; the rational spirit
is from God absolutely; the sphere of its activity is celestial and divine, and divine
inspiration and influence pass through it to the material body. The body is a house
wherein soul and spirit abide and perform their functions, having been married therein by
God. At the same time, they strive daily with one another, till the spirit overcomes the
soul, and thus attains regeneration. There are two kinds of death--that which results from
the destruction of vital physical organs by disease or injury, and that which results from
the destruction of the sensitive soul by envenomed astral influences. Physical
disintegration and flight of the divine spirit follow in either case. The spirit may also be
recalled by the direct action of the will of God, without disease or injury. Man is
therefore poised upon three pillars; if one of them fall or break, the man dies. He should
preserve and embalm his body against infectious diseases, for the living organism can be
embalmed better than a corpse. He should also combat the venomous influences of
baleful stars, for Elohim has gifted men with the power to compose characters that will
destroy such influences. It is impossible, however, to cure those diseases with which God
in His unsearchable compassion may Himself scourge mankind; vain are the best
medicines and vain the highest arcana, vain p. 39 is p. ex. unicorn., vain is the potent
aurum, vain the spiritus auri, vain the quinta essenda; Azoth itself is useless; the lapis
philosophorum is made void. The skilled physician will immediately discover such a case
in a patient. All other diseases, whether deriving from the planets, from the natural
corruption of the earth or from neglect, may be cured by natural remedies--by herbs,
balms, spices, oils, metals or preparations of Alchemy. When natural diseases become
incurable it is through the ignorance or indocility of man. This Appendix of Theosophia
Pneumatica not only indicates the influence but reproduces the terminology of
Paracelsus.
§ 3. The Enchiridion of Pope Leo